21 NCAC 65 .0205. SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED RECREATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT

(a)  The Licensed Recreational Therapy Assistant (LRTA) must perform duties and functions under the clinical supervision of the Licensed Recreational Therapist (LRT).  Once the LRT determines the LRTA has demonstrated competence to provide specific interventions, documentation, and to make recommendations for program modification, the LRTA shall practice as defined and described in the most recent version of ATRA Standards for the Practice of Therapeutic Recreation and Self-Assessment Guide.

(b)  Clinical supervision, as defined in the glossary of the ATRA Standards of Practice, must be performed in accordance with a written agency policy that includes, at minimum, the following elements:

(1)           The Licensed Recreational Therapist must:

(A)          Determine the recreational therapy treatment plan and the elements of that plan appropriate for delegation to a licensed recreational therapy assistant (LRTA);

(B)          Determine whether licensed recreational therapy assistants acting under his or her supervision possess the competence to perform the delegated duties;

(C)          Delegate responsibilities to the LRTA that are consistent with assessed competencies and within the overall LRTA scope of practice as defined and described in the most recent version of the ATRA Standards for the Practice of Therapeutic Recreation and Self-Assessment Guide;

(D)          Review chart documentation, reexamine and reassess the patient or client and revise the recreational therapy treatment plan as warranted; 

(E)           Establish the recreational therapy discharge plan;

(F)           Determine whether co-signature of chart documentation done by the LRTA is necessary for safe and effective care and treatment; 

(G)          Be immediately available directly or by telecommunication to the LRTA; and

(H)          Be limited to clinically supervising only the number of LRTAs as is appropriate for providing safe and effective patient or client intervention at all times.

(2)           A Licensed Recreational Therapy Assistant must:

(A)          Assist in the practice of recreational therapy only to the extent allowed by the supervising LRT;

(B)          Assist in the assessment of patient or client needs to the extent defined by the most recent version of the ATRA Standards for the Practice of Therapeutic Recreation and Self-Assessment Guide and described in written agency policy;

(C)          Make modifications of the recreational therapy treatment programs that are consistent with the recreational therapy treatment plan and under the supervision of the LRT;

(D)          Engage in off-site patient or client related functions that are appropriate for the LRTA's qualifications and assessed competency in consideration of the functional status of the patient or client; and

(E)           Document care provided in accordance with written agency policy. 

(3)           Prohibited Practice:

(A)          A LRTA must not engage in practices of a LRT as defined and described in the most recent version of the ATRA Standards for the Practice of Therapeutic Recreation and Self-Assessment Guide and any subsequent changes and amendments. A copy can be purchased from ATRA at: http//www.atra-tr.org; and

(B)          A LRTA must not engage in acts beyond the scope of practice delegated by the supervising LRT. 

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 90C-22(3);

Temporary Adoption Eff. December 1, 2005;

Eff. January 1, 2007.